Higher cardiac death risk seen with anxiety, depressionOlder heart disease patients who suffer from anxiety and depression had three times the risk of death compared with those who did not have the conditions, a study revealed. "Patients with heart disease who experience high anxiety during the stressors of everyday life may benefit from treatments designed to reduce anxiety, such as medications targeting anxiety or stress management," lead researcher Lana Watkins said. The work was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. HealthDay News
(3/19)

Increased risk of early death seen among younger stroke survivorsA study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found an increased risk of dying over the next 20 years among adults who survived a stroke before age 50. The findings, based on more than 1,600 stroke patients, suggest that the underlying vascular condition that led to a stroke "continues to put these patients at an increased risk for vascular disease throughout their lives," researchers said. HealthDay News
(3/19)

Meeting ideal heart health metrics can reduce cancer riskAchieving six or seven of the Life's Simple 7 goals for cardiovascular health lowered the likelihood of cancer by 51%, compared with meeting none of the goals, according to a study in the journal Circulation. Even meeting just one or two of the goals was associated with a 21% reduction in cancer risk, researchers said. Nurse.com
(3/19)

Prenatal vitamin D not tied to bone mineral content in childrenData on 3,960 mother-child pairs showed no substantial association between prenatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and offspring bone mineral content at ages 9 and 10. Researchers said the study shows no strong evidence that pregnant women should take vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk of low bone mineral content but cautioned that the "results should not be interpreted as suggesting that individual 25(OH)D concentrations are not an important determinant of bone health." The study was published in The Lancet. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News
(3/19)

Study looks at risks, benefits of antibiotic use in respiratory infectionsResearchers examined data from a U.K. primary care database and found that patients with acute nonspecific respiratory infections treated with antibiotics did not have a higher risk of serious adverse events compared with patients who didn't take the drugs. Patients who took antibiotics also had a slightly lower risk of being hospitalized for pneumonia. The study appeared online in the Annals of Family Medicine. Healio
(3/20), Medscape (free registration)
(3/19)

Growth in first year appears unaffected by prenatal SSRI useTaking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy may not affect an infant's growth during the first year of life, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers found that babies born to mothers who took the antidepressants had comparable weight, length and head circumference as babies with no exposure to the drugs. HealthDay News
(3/20)

Leveraging New Technology in Modern BusinessThe workplace is changing, and businesses have an opportunity to turn new work routines into productivity gains. With the right tools to collaborate easily, your team will find there's more time to focus on the work that matters most, take on additional projects and improve client relationships. Read this eBook to learn how to leverage new technology today!

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Emerging Trends, Products and Technologies

Study shows healthiest, least-healthy counties in each stateResearchers at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation analyzed county-based data to create a list of the healthiest and least-healthy counties in each state. They said least-healthy counties had higher mortality rates, more than 20% of children living in poverty, and higher rates of smoking and physical inactivity. USA Today
(3/20)

CDC: 1 in 50 school-age children has autismThe number of parent-reported diagnosed autism cases in the U.S. significantly increased, from 1 in 88 in 2007 to 1 in every 50 schoolchildren between 2011 and 2012, CDC researchers said. They looked at data from a national telephone survey and found that the increase was higher for boys and older children than girls and younger children. Experts said the higher numbers are likely a result of officials getting better at counting children with autism, rather than a true increase in prevalence. National Public Radio/The Associated Press
(3/20), USA Today
(3/20)

Health Policy and Legislative News

Some states decline to enforce ACA insurer rulesFlorida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wyoming are among the states that will not enforce Affordable Care Act regulations regarding insurers, such as requiring insurers to accept all applicants and forbidding them from charging more based on gender. HHS has few state resources and little experience enforcing health insurance rules, experts say. Kaiser Health News/Capsules blog
(3/19)

AANP News

Opportunity for NP authorsDo you have a practice focus on gastrointestinal issues and would like to share information with other NPs? If so, there is still time to submit a manuscript for the upcoming issue of our new online, peer-reviewed CE publication, NP Professional Practice Compendium. See the table below for topics and associated deadlines for submission. To learn more about the requirements and the process for submission, access the Compendium Call for Manuscripts or e-mail compendium@aanp.org. Gastrointestinal -- March 29; Musculoskeletal -- June 28; Health Promotion/Disease Prevention -- Sept. 27; and Business Management -- Dec. 28.